Gentlemen:
The Governor, with the advice of the Council, actuated with the principles of economy, from the small number and short duration of the State Legionary Troops, made an arrangement of the Officers agreeably to what was thought the sense of the last Assembly, and did not draw into service the full train of Officers that would have been necessary had that corps been compleated agreeably to the Act passed at Wake Court House. Since the resignation of Lieutenant Col. Williams, several Gentlemen received their first appointments, to-wit, in May & June last, and some have withdrawn themselves from the service without resignation, that renders it somewhat difficult to adjust the promotion of that Line at present; I am however, ready to comply with the sense of the Honorable the General Assembly, but request their further pleasure as to the arrangement, that all the Gentlemen officers concerned, and the public receive satisfaction. Whether those who have withdrawn themselves, and not returned to the service be entitled to the promotion intended; whether those who received their first appointments in May & June last are to have rank, and draw pay from the first of November;
whether those taken from the ranks and were substitutes, receive full pay, and whether all the Commissions are to be of longer duration than the 10th of January last, when the Corps were generally discharged.